July week 3

Another roost session with Peter and Alan J on Tuesday 20th, resulted in a catch of 27 + (3). They returned on Thursday 22nd, helped by George and Alan L, and had a similar catch of 36 + (3). The mix for the two attempts was Sand Martin 42 + (2), Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 3, Blackcap 1, Reed Warbler 6 + (4), Blue Tit 3, Long-tailed Tit 2 and Reed Bunting 1. The Sand Martin total has now just topped 100, the first time we have ringed more than this number since 2004 (when we ringed 354).

With a break in the hot weather forecast for the weekend, Friday 23rd saw two more RAS sessions - Andy was at the jetty for a catch of 22 + (3), while Jerry was in rb2 for a catch of 39 + (7). The catch sizes being a good reflection of the length of netting set (2 x 18m at the jetty, double that in rb2). The first couple of hours at both sites were very productive, but it quickly got quiet when it became hot and sunny. The combined mix as Wren 1 + (1), Blackbird 1, Redstart 2, Cettis Warbler (1), Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 34 + (6), Sedge Warbler 7, Blue Tit 7, Bullfinch 2, Reed Bunting 4 + (2). At last some decent numbers of young Reed Warblers have been caught, and the first young Sedge Warblers are starting to move through.

However the weekend's "severe weather warning" came to nothing, with no sign of any rain in SE Wales. So on Sunday morning Andy completed CES 9 (with Jerry helping him from mid session). Alan L had cut the net lanes again during the week, and the site was looking really good. With overcast and calm conditions (a bit of sun late in the session), Andy had a reasonable 26 + (5), with the majority of birds being juveniles, made up of Wren 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 4, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 4 + (2), Blackcap 12 + (2), Nuthatch1, Goldfinch 1 and Greenfinch 1.

That evening Peter and Alan had another go at a roost. The last minute decision to make the most of the weather window resulted in the best roost catch of the year with 43 Sand Martin being the highest day total since 2004.The Sand Martin flock was over 500 strong and the biggest of the year so far. The pair of Hobby were harassing the Sand Martin again though impacting the catch (and just avoiding the net themselves). Prior to the Roost they caught 5 Chiffchaff and 4 (1) Reed Warbler for an evening total of 52 (1).